James Knitting Mills, Inc. v. Sinensky

8 Misc. 2d 603, 165 N.Y.S.2d 684, 40 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2098, 1957 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3019
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1957
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 8 Misc. 2d 603 (James Knitting Mills, Inc. v. Sinensky) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
James Knitting Mills, Inc. v. Sinensky, 8 Misc. 2d 603, 165 N.Y.S.2d 684, 40 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2098, 1957 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3019 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1957).

Opinion

Edward G. Baker, J.

Plaintiff, a manufacturer of knit goods, brings this action to enjoin and restrain defendant union from picketing plaintiff’s premises, and for damages.

In or about August, 1954, Local 1499, Retail Clerks International Assn., A.F.L., was certified by the National Labor Relations Board as the exclusive bargaining representative of plaintiff’s employees. Thereafter, plaintiff entered into a collective bargaining agreement with said union, which, by its terms, was to expire on August 31, 1956. In May, 1956, one Treitler, a representative of Local 1499, and one De Leo, a representative of the defendant union, called on James Landro, the president of plaintiff, at the latter’s office. Treitler stated that Local 1499 did not intend to renew its contract with plain[604]*604tiff and that the defendant union would “ take over ”. De Leo demanded that plaintiff enter into a collective bargaining agreement with defendant union, in default of which plaintiff would be put out of business.

In June, 1956, Treitler and De Leo returned to plaintiff’s plant. The demands and threats were repeated. Treitler delivered to Landro 'a letter which reads as follows:

‘ ‘ American Federation oe Labor Local 1499, B.O.I.A.
Affiliated with Central Trades & Labor Council 250 West 57th Street, Suite 1222, New York 19, N. Y.
William Bennett Fannie Berlow
President Sec’y-Treas.
June 7, 1956
Mr. James Landro, Pres.
James Knitting Mills, Inc.
2887 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
This is to notify you that we do not intend to renew our agreement entered into with James Knitting Mills, Inc. and Local 1499, on August 24, 1954, which expires this year, August 31, 1956.
We have made this decision because the Retail Clerks International Association does not have jurisdiction over this type of shop.
A copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Knitgoods Workers’ Union, Local 155, I.L.G.W.U.
Very truly yours,
Ben Treitler,
Business Agent.”

De Leo again demanded a contract, and stated that, unless one were signed, plaintiff’s premises would be picketed.

The attempt to coerce plaintiff into signing a collective bargaining agreement with defendant union (which represented none of plaintiff’s employees) was unsuccessful. Landro refused to capitulate, stating that his contract with Local 1499 was still in force and effect, and that the question of representation was a matter for his employees to decide.

On June 18,1956, two months prior to the expiration of plaintiff’s contract with Local 1499, defendant commenced picketing plaintiff’s establishment. The picketing has continued, except [605]*605for a period of 10 days, during which period it was temporarily enjoined. As a result, plaintiff has lost the business of two of its largest suppliers. The number of its employees has been reduced from 45 to 7. Concededly, defendant union does not now represent nor has it ever represented any of plaintiff’s employees.

On or about June 7, 1956, Local 710, Production, Service Employees Union, United Industrial Unions, filed with the National Labor Relations Board a petition for certification. On June 18, it entered into a consent election agreement with plaintiff. An election was conducted on June 29, and Local 710 was chosen, by a vote of 38 to 1, as the collective bargaining representative of the employees of plaintiff. It was so certified by the board on July 10, 1956. Thereafter, on July 25, 1956, plaintiff entered into a collective bargaining contract with said certified union, expiring August 1, 1958.

Following the certification of Local 710, plaintiff filed with the board an unfair labor practice charge against the defendant union, alleging that the union’s activities constituted an unfair labor practice within the meaning of section 8 (subd. [b], par. [4], cl. [C]; U. S. Code, tit. 29, § 158) of the Labor Management Relations Act, as amended. Pursuant to the provisions of the act, the regional director of the board filed in the United States District Court his petition for a temporary injunction against the picketing pending final determination of the controversy by the board.

On February 1, 1957, the District Court issued its order directing that, pending such final adjudication, the picketing, insofar as it was violative of section 8 (subd. [b], par. [4], cl. [C]) of the act, be enjoined. The order further provided that ‘ ‘ nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit peaceful picketing by respondent [union] of the premises of [plaintiff] including the carrying of signs or banners containing statements such as those used by respondent since shortly after July 10, 1955.” The court noted in its opinion that the signs carried by the pickets after that date were mere appeals to the employees of plaintiff to join the defendant union, and held that ‘ ‘ the carrying of such signs did not extend beyond the activity expressly permitted by Subsection (c) of Section 8 of the Act ’ ’ and further noted ‘ ‘ The Act does not prohibit post-certification picketing ” (citing Bonds v. Local 50, Bakery & Confectionary Workers Int. Union, A.F.L., 224 F. 2d 49).

While the application for a temporary injunction was still under advisement by the District Court, and prior to the date of the order above referred to, the union’s complaint came on [606]*606for hearing before a trial examiner of the National Labor Relations Board. The examiner held (contrary to the decision of the Federal courts [see e.g. Douds v. Local 50, supra]) that the picketing constituted an unfair labor practice within the meaning of the Federal act, and, on December 31, 1956, he issued-his report and recommendation that the board direct the union to cease and desist. The matter has not yet been decided by the board and is still pending before it.

The testimony of plaintiff’s witness, Landro, stands uncontradicted. It indicates, clearly, that the purpose of the picketing was to coerce plaintiff into recognizing and entering into a contract with defendant union which represented none of plaintiff’s employees. The picketing has continued in spite of proper and lawful certification by the board of another union as the sole collective bargaining representative of plaintiff’s employees. There is not the slightest suggestion in the evidence that the employees’ nearly unanimous choice of Local 710 as their bargaining representative was brought about by any pressure, persuasion or collusion on the part of plaintiff.

Under the Constitution and Labor Law of this State, the picketing of plaintiff’s establishment by the defendant, under the circumstances and for the purposes disclosed in the proof, however innocuous the legend on the pickets’ placards, was and is unlawful (Goodwins, Inc. v. Hagedorn, 303 N. Y. 300).

This court, however, is without jurisdiction to grant the relief sought. Plaintiff is engaged in interstate commerce within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.

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8 Misc. 2d 603, 165 N.Y.S.2d 684, 40 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2098, 1957 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3019, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/james-knitting-mills-inc-v-sinensky-nysupct-1957.